A piece of Japanese incense

Chapter 131 Questioning

"Ahhhhhh! Stop talking!" I interrupted Feng Zhixu anxiously, my heart already filled with uneasiness.

(So, this is why Zhi Yian insisted on having me return to the palace? Help!)

I felt a warm current rushing from my chest to my forehead, and the defense line of my rationality collapsed in an instant. Only one thought remained in my mind - I must go find Zhi Yian and ask him clearly now!

After hurriedly saying goodbye to Feng Zhixu, he headed towards Changle Palace.

"Girl, where are we going?" Yutuan quickly followed me.

"Go see Dad!"

"Miss, please walk slower. How about I go and inform them first? Wouldn't it be inappropriate for us to go there rashly? Besides, we don't know whether the prince consort is in Changle Palace..." Yu Tuan chattered while jogging.

Ignoring Yu Tuan's persuasion, he went straight to Luo Mengtang where Zhi Yian was.

"Miss, stop! You are not allowed to enter without being summoned!" Two guards in silver armor blocked my way. Their voices were concise and firm, and the spears in their hands flashed coldly.

My steps came to an abrupt halt, and an inexplicable sense of frustration surged in my heart. I stood outside Luo Mengtang, lowered my head silently, and accepted this result.

"Girl, how about... let's come back tomorrow!" Yutuan squatted with me beside the flower bed.

"Wait a minute."

"Well...how about we go to Master Siqi's place? Have some snacks and drink some tea..."

"Yutuan, go ask them when we can go in?" The stone pier was a little cold, and the slight cramp in my abdomen felt like countless tiny needles were constantly stabbing me, making me restless.

Eunuch Guangfei led us into a quiet hall and waited for a while. At first, we were slightly dissatisfied, but as time went by, this dissatisfaction gradually expanded and turned into an uncontrollable rage.

If I had treated him as my father before, and although I was a little distant, I had been cautiously maintaining this thin connection, then at this moment, I no longer have any warmth towards him at all.

I am just like all his pawns, ready to be sacrificed at any time.

The more I thought about it, the more indignant I became. I knew that this might not be the right thing to do, but at that moment, I couldn't help but cross the threshold and run straight to Zhi Yian's study.

I pushed aside the crowd blocking my way and rushed in regardless of everything: "I have something I must ask you!"

Zhi Yian sat alone in a corner of the room, his eyes empty and distant, as if they penetrated the crowd in front of him and looked into an unknown void.

His body was stiff and upright, and every movement revealed a deliberate sense of alienation, as if he was deliberately isolating himself from the outside world. There was no expression on his face, neither smiling nor frowning, like a blank sheet of paper, without any trace of emotion.

My hands unconsciously reached into my purse, groping for something to grab onto to steady my hands which were shaking with excitement.

I followed him into a quiet room. Although he did not speak, his intimidating aura still made me feel a little oppressed.

"Why aren't you talking again?" He sat in the armchair with his hands on both sides of the armrests.

"I ask you! Why did you insist on asking the princess to pierce my ears? Don't you know that wearing earrings is taboo in the palace? Aren't you afraid that I will offend Concubine Xin? Why do you want me to wear the earrings you gave me to see His Majesty?" My voice gradually became louder, and my words shot out like a string of cannonballs. Every sentence was filled with intense emotions, and I didn't allow him to interrupt.

He still had no expression on his face. He patted the seat beside him and motioned for me to sit down.

"He'er should also understand the situation. You know that your father is busy with official business, but you still want to disturb him rashly. Aren't you afraid of being laughed at?"

Seeing that he did not answer me but asked me instead, and did not take my words seriously at all, I became even more annoyed and stood up suddenly, and the chair made a sharp friction sound on the floor.

"Who knows what you are busy with!" I

"Of course you are busy with state affairs, Dad..." He stood up and touched the top of my head.

I was not used to the sudden intimacy. I dodged his hand and sat back in my chair. “Are you in an important position? With so many people gathered here, who knows if you are forming a clique or not!”

"He'er!" His voice was sharp and piercing, and the whole room seemed to become tense because of his sudden anger.

"How can you be so ignorant of etiquette! How dare you say such treasonous words!"

"Then why did my father take the imperial examination and become an official? I have been thinking about it all the way here but I still can't figure it out!

Is it for the sake of a fortune? But the daily income of an honest official is just a salary. If he is not honest and seeks extra-legal benefits, isn't that a big risk? No one knows when something will happen. Even if nothing happens, I'm afraid he will be worried for a long time. As long as the expenses are normal, the cost of three meals a day for one person or even a family is not much, so why take such a risk? If everything is fine, he will be worried all day long. Once the truth is revealed and he is imprisoned, he will regret it. Obviously, being an official is not a way to get rich. Compared with being an official, doesn't San Sheng Tang make more money?

Maybe it was to bring honor to the family? But as an orphan, why would he need to bring honor to the family? The more honor you enjoy, the more risk you have to bear of shame. Honor and disgrace have always been closely linked. Officials should be humble and low-key, don't you know?

Or is it for the sake of ennobling your wife and son? However, you have abandoned the kindness of your grandfather in raising you, abandoned your first wife, and have clung to the powerful, becoming a royal consort, a son of the emperor, and a prominent figure for a time!

Or is it to realize personal ambitions? To benefit the people? But I see that your way of being an official is like walking on thin ice, trembling with fear, wearing the clothes of the people, eating the food of the people, but you have not brought any welfare to millions of people!

Forgive my daughter's stupidity, I really can't understand why you, father, are so scheming and calculating, even involving your own daughter. What is your motive behind this?"

I leaned forward, clenched my hands into fists, supported myself on my knees, and took a deep breath to try to calm the waves in my heart, but the fire in my eyes became more and more intense.

"Which bastard is spreading rumors in front of He'er? Trying to alienate the relationship between you and me!"

"Do I need someone to instigate this? My father clearly knows what His Majesty likes. He gave me earrings on my birthday. His intention is obvious. He plans to send me to the palace to win His Majesty's favor and consolidate his power!"

Zhi Yian slammed his palm heavily on the table, making a deafening noise.

At that moment, the air in the whole room froze and time seemed to stand still.

His eyes were as sharp as a knife, and beneath his furrowed brows, his eyes flashed with unquestionable anger.

With this beat, all the emotions burst out, and his voice became louder, with uncontrollable excitement and anger: "Ridiculous! What are you thinking about all day long!"